2022 Tesla Model 3 price increases again in Australia, up to $4000

After raising the entry-level Tesla Model 3's price last week, it's gone up again – but this time it's across the entire line-up by around four to five per cent.

The 2022 Tesla Model 3 range is now priced from:

• Model 3 rear-wheel drive: $63,900 (+$3000)
• Model 3 Long Range all-wheel drive: $76,200 (+$3000)
• Model 3 Performance all-wheel drive: $88,900 (+$4000)

All prices are before on-road costs and state incentives. Below we've estimated the drive-away pricing for each variant after the inclusion of on-road costs and the deduction of stamp duty and/or rebate incentives for each state.

It’s understood Tesla will abide by the price promised at the time buyers paid their reservations online.

Estimated delivery dates have also been stretched again – six to nine months – compared to the five to seven months time frame previously stated in February.

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The cheapest Model 3 rear-wheel drive (RWD) is particularly poignant after the American automaker increased its starting price by $1000 just last week from $59,900 to $60,900 before on-road costs.

It comes as sleuths like Tesla Tom uncovered newly-built Model 3s now feature longer LED indicator signals and reversing bulbs on both sides of the tail lights (previously left only), alongside the computer-grade AMD Ryzen processor powering the infotainment system.

For context, the battery-electric small sedan launched in 2019 with a price tag from $66,000 to $85,000 before on-road costs. Tesla increased its price in April 2020 due to the weak Australian dollar, before gradually dropping in 2021 alongside releasing the new facelift and shift to Shanghai production.

This change is attributed to the widespread semiconductor chip shortage to power essential vehicle electronics, leading to slower manufacturing lines, a growing backlog of orders, and increased production costs and inflation of parts.

Due to the chip shortage, the rapidly growing electric carmaker already removed two electronic control units used in the steering racks to enable more advanced autonomous driving technology in the future, and even temporarily omitted USB-C charging ports for deliveries in the USA.

Meanwhile, the newly launched Polestar 2 rival miss out on some advanced LED lighting features, the top-spec Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric dual motor SUV is $3000 more expensive than when it first launched, and models like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 sibling crossovers are in short supply due to a comparatively small allocation of stock for Australia.

The Shanghai-made Tesla Model 3 was the best selling electric car in the country last year and 22nd best selling vehicle overall. Selling 12,094 units, it sold nearly nine times more examples than the penultimate chart topper, the affordable MG ZS EV small SUV.

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Its success is due to several unique selling points, forming a successful EV formula.

The base Model 3 RWD comes with a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery good for up to 491km of range on the stricter WLTP testing regime, while the Long Range nets a larger nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery for up to 602km of driving range (WLTP), and the Performance ups the ante with more power but 547km of range (WLTP).

The Model 3 is also expected to be joined by the related, much anticipated Tesla Model Y small SUV sometime this year or in 2023 owing to the chip shortage delays.

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How does the Model 3 stack up against the competition?

With the recent price increases, the Model 3 RWD now starts higher than the base Polestar 2 (before on-road costs and state incentives). However, they include different features as standard.

In order to align the Polestar 2 Standard Range Single Motor with the Model 3 rear-wheel drive, options like the Pilot Pack (or temporary Pilot lite) and Plus Pack will need to be added to have key features like more advanced safety assist systems, a heat pump, glass roof and more.

It's worth noting that the Chinese-Swedish EV offers unique features from said option packs not available on the Model 3, including a 360-degree surround-view camera, semi-automatic parking system, and radar-based blind spot and rear cross-traffic alerts.